Agrochemical composition

ABSTRACT

An agrochemical composition with enhanced activity and phase stability is provided comprising: 
     a) glyphosate present in an amount which is not in excess of about 25% 
     b) one or more lipophilic solvents present in an amount which is not in excess of about 80% 
     c) one or more lipophobic plant nutrients present in an amount which is not in excess of about 50% 
     d) one or more oil soluble bases present in an amount which is not in excess of about 50% wherein the oil soluble base forms a lipophilic solvent soluble complex with glyphosate which is capable of coupling or assisting coupling of the lipophobic plant nutrients with the lipophilic solvents.

This application has been filed under 35 USC 371 as the national stageof international application PCT/AU00/00415, filed May 5, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an agrochemical composition. More particularly,this invention relates to a composition which includes both abiologically active ingredient and adjuvants.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge isreferred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not to betaken as an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or anycombination thereof was at the priority date:

(a) part of common general knowledge; or

(b) known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with whichthis specification is concerned.

Farmers use many agrochemicals to protect or improve their crops. Often,farmers will add adjuvants to a prepared solution containingbiologically active ingredients (hereinafter referred to as “actives”)and water to enhance their performance. Sometimes the adjuvants must beadded to ensure optimum performance of the actives in a variety ofconditions which may otherwise inhibit it, for example, hard water, hightemperatures, poor growing conditions.

Whilst the following discussion highlights the invention with relationto herbicides, it is believed that the same principles apply to otheractives such as plant hormones, insecticides, crop desiccants or cropdefoliants.

Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide. It is commonly used indomestic, industrial and agricultural situations to control weeds. Inthe agricultural industry, its use may be limited by the fact thatglyphosate will kill most plants including the desired crop depending onthe application rate and/or resistance level. Non-selective herbicidescan also be used to control weeds in cropping situations where the crophas either been bred or genetically modified to be resistant to theherbicide.

However, when a field is fallow there is no crop for the farmer to beconcerned about and glyphosate is often used to prevent weeds frommaturing to produce a multitude of seeds which will germinate and causeproblems when a crop is later grown on that field.

There is a growing trend to combine herbicides with adjuvants whichincrease the efficacy of the herbicide. There are two trends in thisarea. On the one hand, adjuvants are developed as separate compositionswhich are added to the herbicide at the time of use. On the other hand,formulations have been developed which contain both the herbicide andthe adjuvant.

The types of substances which are used as adjuvants include ammoniumsalts and other plant nutrients, wetting agents, spray drift retardantsand lipophilic solvents. Ammonium salts are believed to minimize thedeleterious effects of hard water on herbicidal performance and toprovide nutrition to the plant which enhances herbicidal performance.Wetting agents improve the leaf coverage of the herbicide. Lipophilicsolvents keep the herbicide in liquid form as the herbicide will beineffective if it dries on the foliage and can also assist thepenetration of the herbicide into the plant.

The farmer may combine all these additives with the herbicide when thetank mix is prepared but the farmer may not know whether thesecomponents are compatible with each other. Some additives or adjuvantscan actually antagonise each other and decrease the activity of theagrochemical. It is also inconvenient since there are several componentswhich must be bought, measured and combined.

Farmers are always looking for more efficacious and convenient ways toenhance the performance of active ingredients. They would also prefer tosimply apply a single composition which they know will have optimumperformance.

A composition which contains actives when formulated with both plantnutrients and lipophilic solvents may have benefits over otherformulations of the same actives or tank mixes of the individualcomponents. However, this has not been possible to evaluate becausepreparing a homogeneous blend of these components is not easily achievedas they are not readily coupled together.

For example, it is known that formulations of glyphosate and ammoniumsulfate can be readily produced because both of these substances arewater soluble. However, the polar nature of glyphosate and ammoniumsulfate has prevented the formulation of useful compositions whichinclude lipophilic solvents since glyphosate and ammonium sulfate areessentially insoluble in lipophilic solvents.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It has surprisingly been found that a composition which includes one ormore oil soluble bases will enable a homogeneous blend to be formed ofactives which include organic acids, plant nutrients (e.g. ammoniumsalts), water and lipophilic solvents.

According to one aspect of the invention, a homogeneous liquidagrochemical composition is provided which comprises:

(a) not in excess of about 25% of one or more organic acids used as anactive;

(b) not in excess of about 80% of one or more lipophilic solvents;

(c) not in excess of about 50% of one or more plant nutrients (such asammonium salts of inorganic anions); and

(d) not in excess of about 50% of one or more oil soluble bases whereinthe oil soluble base forms a lipophilic solvent soluble complex with theorganic acid;

wherein all proportions are calculated weight/weight on a dry basisbased on the total composition.

Preferably, the agrochemical composition comprises:

(a) from 2 to 12% of one or more organic acids used as an active;

(b) from 10 to 50% of one or more lipophilic solvents;

(c) from 2 to 20% of one or more plant nutrients (such as ammonium saltsof inorganic anions); and

(d) from 2 to 20% of one or more oil soluble bases.

The organic acids may be selected from the group including glyphosate,gibberellic acid, 2,4-D, dinitrocresol, acifluorfen, benazolin,bilanafos, blasticidin-S, chloramben, chlorflurenol, chlorimuron,chloroacetic acid, chlorthal, clodinafop, cloprop, clopyralid,cloquintocet, cloxyfonac, 4-CPA, flamprop, flamprop-M, fluazifop,fluazifop-P, fluoroglycofen, flupropanate, flurenol, fluroxypyr,fosamine, fosetyl, glufosinate, halosulphuron, haloxyfop, imazapyr,imazaquin, imazethapyr, indol-3-ylacetic acid, 4-indol-3-ylbutyric acid,kasugamycin, quinclorac, quinmerac, quizalofop, quizalofop-P,sulfometuron, 2,3,6-TBA, tecloftalam, thifensulfuron, triclopyr andtriflusulfuron. Preferably the organic acid is glyphosate.

The lipophilic solvents may be petroleum fractions, vegetable oils,alkyl esters of fatty acids, fatty alcohols, guerbet alcohols or anycombination thereof. The vegetable oils include medium chaintriglycerides.

The plant nutrients include ammonium salt of inorganic anions (such asammonium sulfate and ammonium phosphates) which are known to minimizethe deleterious effects of hard water on the performance of actives.Preferably, the ammonium salt is ammonium sulfate. If an anhydrousammonium salt is used then water may need to be added to thecomposition. However, if the ammonium salt is already in solution thenadditional water will probably not be necessary.

The oil soluble bases which may be used include fatty amines, fattyquaternary ammonium hydroxides, fatty betaines and calciumoverbasedphenates which will couple with the active acid to form an oilsoluble complex. Preferably, N,N-dialkyl fatty amines are used. Forexample, N,N dimethyllaurylamine or dimethylcocoamine.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, theagrochemical composition optionally contains other components to improvethe form of the composition. These other components may be added to forma micro-emulsion. Typically, emulsifiers may be used and selected fromemulsifiers which may be nonionic, anionic, cationic or amphoteric.Other components which may be added include co-solvents, coupling agentsor diluents used to form a micro-emulsion. Preferably, the othercomponents used to form a micro-emulsion with alkyl esters of fattyacids as the lipophilic solvent are a combination of nonionicemulsifiers, cationic emulsifiers and co-solvents. More preferably, withethyl esters of fatty acids the other components are alkylpolysaccharides, propylene glycol, fatty alkanolamides and cetyltrimethyl anunonium chloride.

Preferably, the nonionic emulsifiers are alkyl polysaccharides,sorbates, polysorbates, alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates,glycols or fatty alkanolamides. Alkyl polysaccharides are sometimescalled alkyl polyglucosides, alkyl glucosides or alkyl saccharides. Anexample of a fatty alkanolamide is oleyldiethanolamide. The glycolsinclude propylene glycol, 1,3-butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, andpolypropylene glycols.

The cationic emulsifiers are well known to those skilled in the art, andit is recognised there are a multitude of combinations. Preferably, thecationic emulsifiers are quaternary cationic emulsifiers, for example,alkyltrimethylammonium chloride, alkyl dimethylbenzylammonium chloride,alkylpyridium chloride, or alkylimidazolium chloride. More preferably,the cationic emulsifiers are fatty quaternary ammonium chlorides.

According to another preferred embodiment, the agrochemical compositionfurther comprises one or more other available adjuvant components. Theadjuvant component may be selected from nonionic emulsifiers, cationicemulsifiers, pH modifiers, spray drift retardants and wetters.

According to a second form of the invention, there is provided a methodfor enhancing the activity of an organic acid used as an active in anagrochemical composition comprising the step of incorporating theorganic acid in a homogeneous liquid agrochemical compositioncomprising:

(a) not in excess of about 25% of one or more organic acids used as anactive;

(b) not in excess of about 80% of one or more lipophilic solvents;

(c) not in excess of about 50% of one or more plant nutrients (such asammonium salts of inorganic anions); and

(d) not in excess of about 50% of one or more oil soluble bases whereinthe oil soluble base forms a lipophilic solvent soluble complex with theorganic acid;

wherein all proportions are calculated weight/weight on a dry basisbased on the total composition.

According to a third form of the invention, there is provided a methodof treating vegetation comprising the step of applying a homogeneousliquid agrochemical composition comprising:

(a) not in excess of about 25% of one or more organic acids used as anactive;

(b) not in excess of about 80% of one or more lipophilic solvents;

(c) not in excess of about 50% of one or more plant nutrients (such asammonium salts of inorganic anions); and

(d) not in excess of about 50% of one or more oil soluble bases whereinthe oil soluble base forms a lipophilic solvent soluble complex with theorganic acid;

wherein all proportions are calculated weight/weight on a dry basisbased on the total composition.

EXAMPLES

The invention will now be further explained and illustrated by referenceto the following non-limiting examples.

Lipophilic solvents, plant nutrients, organic acids and oil solublebases used 1,3 Butanediol ex Hoechst Celanese, U.S.A. 2,4-D(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid from UNISUN International, Australia‘880’ ammonia ex Orica, Australia Ammonium sulphate >99% purity ex RedoxChemicals, Australia. Algene SC25 25% paste of stearyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride ex ICI Ltd, UK Alkadet 15 70% solution of alkylpolysaccharide ex Huntsman Corporation, Australia Citric acid ex CitricBelge, Belgium Empigen BB/AU 28% solution of cocobetaine ex Albright andWilson, Australia Esterol 112 methyl esters of canola oil fatty acids exVictorian Chemical Company, Australia Esterol 123 approximately 80% w/wethyl and 20% w/w methyl esters of Canola Oil fatty acids ex VictorianChemical Company, Australia Farmin DMC dimethylcocoamine ex KAO,Philippines Glufosinate 4-[hydroxy(methyl)phosphinoyl]-DL-homoalanineammonium salt as 50% aqueous solution ex Aventis, Germany. GlyphosateN-(phosphonomethyl)glycine (98% min) ex Davison Industries, Australia.Glyphosate CT 450 g/L glyphosate ex Nufarm, Australia Isopropanol exRedox Chemicals, Australia Noram O oleylamine ex Elf Atochem, AustraliaOxamin LO 30% solution of lauryldimethylamine oxide ex HuntsmanCorporation, Australia Propylene Glycol ex Consolidated ChemicalCompany, Australia Quatramine C16/29 29% solution of cetyl trimethylammonium chloride ex APS, Australia Quatramine NC50 50% solution ofalkyldimethylbenzene ammonium chloride 50% solution ex APS, AustraliaRadiamine 6765 dimethyl laurylamine ex Fina Chemicals Belgium. Radiaquat6465 30% solution of lauryl trimethyl ammonium chloride ex FinaChemicals, Belgium. Shell P830 70 sec neutral paraffinic oil ex Shell,Australia Sulphuric acid 98% commercial grade ex Orica, AustraliaSylgard 309 Silicone based wetting agent ex Dow Corning, Australia Teric16M2 fatty amine ethoxylate ex Huntsman Corporation, Australia. TericGN9 nonylphenol 9 moles ethylene oxide ex Huntsman Corporation,Australia Terwet 3001 70% solution of alkyl polysaccharide ex Hunts- manCorporation, Australia Vicamid 182 oleylimidazoline ex VictorianChemical Company, Australia Vicamid 825 oleyldiethanolamide ex VictorianChemical Company, Australia Urea ex Orica, Australia

The following compositions incorporating glyphosate, glufosinate, 2,4-Dor mixtures thereof were prepared, some of which have been evaluated forherbicidal activity in the Examples. Compositions 1 to 9 have also beenestablished to be stable homogeneous blends, that is, the compositionremained clear without phase separation for at least 48 hours throughthe temperature range from 0 to 40° C. Compositions 10 to 16 have onlybeen evaluated at ambient and appear as either a semi-stable emulsion ora more stable micro-emulsion.

Other component-coupling agents Sulphuric acid — — — — — Propyleneglycol 3 5.3 4.3 6.2 — Isopropanol — — — — 3.0 Citric acid — — — — —‘880’ Ammonia — — 0.9 — — 1,3-butanediol — — 4.3 6.2 3.0 Othercomponent-nonionic surfactant Vicamid 825 10 5.3 8.7 21.6 9.3 Vicamid182 — — — — — Sylgard 309 — — — — — Terwet 3001 — — — — 3.5 Teric GN9 —— — 3.1 — Alkadet 15 5 3.2 4.3 2.5 — Other component-cationic surfactantRadiaquat 6465 5 — — — — Quatramine NC50 — — — 6.2 — Quatramine C16/29 —5.3 13.9 — 6.5 Oxamin LO — — — — — Algene SC25 — — — — — Oil solublebase Teric 16M2 — 10.5 — 9.3 — Radiamine 6765 10 — — — — Noram O — — —2.0 Farmin DMC — — — — 11.0 Empigen BB/AU — — 8.7 — — Lipophilic solventShell P830 — — — 18.5 — Esterol 123 30 31.6 26.1 — 25.0 Esterol 112 — —— — — Plant nutrient Water 21 23.2 17.4 16.7 21.0 Urea — — — — 1.0Ammonium sulfate 10 10.5 8.7 6.2 7.0 Organic acid Glyphosate 6 5.3 2.63.7 7.7 Glufosinate — — — — — 2,4-D — — — — — Composition 1 2 3 4 5Other component-coupling agents Sulphuric acid — — 2.0 — — — Propyleneglycol — — — 5.5 — — Isopropanol 3.0 3.2 — — — — Citric acid — — — 0.4 —— ‘880’ Ammonia — — — — — — 1,3-butanediol 3.0 3.2 5.0 — — — Othercomponent-nonionic surfactant Vicamid 825 9.3 8.0 8.0 — — — Vicamid 182— — — — — — Sylgard 309 — — — — — — Terwet 3001 3.5 — 5.5 — — — TericGN9 — — — — — — Alkadet 15 — — — 5.5 — — Other component-cationicsurfactant Radiaquat 6465 — — — — — — Quatramine NC50 — — — — — 10Quatramine C16/29 3.6 7.0 5.0 5.5 10 — Oxamin LO — — — — — — Algene SC254.6 — — — — — Oil soluble base Teric 16M2 — — — — — — Radiamine 6765 — —— — — — Noram O 2.0 2.1 2.5 2.2 — 3 Farmin DMC 11.0 11.8 7.0 7.7 10 7Empigen BB/AU — — — — — — Lipophilic solvent Shell P830 — — — — — 40Esterol 123 25.0 — 25.0 32.8 40 — Esterol 112 — 26.7 — — — — Plantnutrient Water 19.3 22.5 18.0 23.0 20 30 Urea 1.0 — — — — — Ammoniumsulfate 7.0 7.5 7.0 11.0 4 4 Organic acid Glyphosate 7.7 8.0 — — 6 6Glufosinate — — 15 — — — 2,4-D — — — 6.6 — — Composition 6 7 8 9 10 11Other component-coupling agents Sulphuric acid — — — — — Propyleneglycol 8 — — — — Isopropanol — 3 3 3 3 Citric acid 1 — — — — ‘880’Ammonia — — — — — 1,3-butanediol — 4 4 3 3 Other component-nonionicsurfactant Vicamid 825 — — 0.5 9.3 9.3 Vicamid 182 — — 3 — — Sylgard 3092 — — — — Terwet 3001 6 5 5 3.5 3.5 Teric GN9 — — — — — Alkadet 15 — — —— — Other component-cationic surfactant Radiaquat 6465 — — — — —Quatramine NC50 — — — — — Quatramine C16/29 5 5 5 — — Oxamin LO — — — —6.5 Algene SC25 — — — — — Oil soluble base Teric 16M2 — — — — —Radiamine 6765 — — — — — Noram O 3 3 — 2 2 Farmin DMC 10 12 12 11 11Empigen BB/AU — — — — — Lipophilic solvent Shell P830 — — — — — Esterol123 24 24 24.5 25 25 Esterol 112 — — — — — Plant nutrient Water 22 22 2321 21 Urea — — — 1 1 Ammonium sulfate 10 10 8 7 7 Organic acidGlyphosate — 6 6 7.7 7.7 Glufosinate — — — — — 2,4-D 10 6 6 — —Composition 12 13 14 15 16

Efficacy of Glyphosate and 2,4-D Formulations

A series of screening trials were undertaken to determine the efficacyof the compositions. All studies were carried out using commercialproducts (herbicides and tank added adjuvants) at recommended or reduceduse rates to be able to differentiate the performance of the products.The conditions were controlled to simulate certain field conditions andare described in detail for each experiment.

Examples 1 to 4 each use the following definitions

Standard After spraying, the plants were transferred to the conditionsgreenhouse Hot Plants in this treatment were transferred to a 30° C.conditions constant environment room 1 hour prior to sprayingapplication and returned immediately after spraying for 2 hours. Theywere then transferred to the green- house. Rain Rainfall was applied toplants 2 h after spray application. 10 mm of rain was applied at anintensity of 46 mm/h Herbicide Herbicides plus additives were appliedusing an application enclosed laboratory track-sprayer fitted with three110° flat fan nozzles (Spray Systems Tee Jet 11001) spaced at 50 cmintervals across the boom. The boomspray moved along a fixed track at 6km/h, sprayed at a water volume of 64 1/ha with a pressure of 200 kPaPlant propagation Ryegrass and wild radish (5 seeds/pot) were sown andseedling treat- at 5 mm depth in 10 cm diameter plastic pots filled mentprior to with Debco potting mix (AS3743) which had been sprayapplication amended with macro and micro nutrients to ensure optimalgrowth. One week after emergence, seed- lings were thinned to oneuniform plant per pot. Plants were grown in a temperature- controlledgreenhouse and transferred outdoors for 3 days prior to sprayapplication in order to harden the seedling and more closely simulatefield conditions fresh wt # is the weight (g/plant) # days afterapplication. Typically a lower number indicates that the herbicide isdetrimentally affecting the life of the plant to a greater degree thanthose treatments with higher numbers visual # visual assessment # daysafter application

Plants were sprayed at 3-6 leaf stage

All treatments used 7 or 8 replicates.

Visual assessments use the following rating system

1 No damage evident

2 Probable damage

3 Obvious damage

4 Most plants affected, some sever stunting

5 All plants affected, some likely to die

6 All plants severely affected, some very likely to die

7 All plants severely affected, some dead, most others likely to die

8 Most plants dead, all others likely to die

9 All plants dead

Materials used in comparative examples Amicide commercial herbicidecontaining 500 g/l 2,4-D 500 ex Nufarm, Australia BS1000 commercialadjuvant containing alcohol ethoxylate wetter ex Crop Care, AustraliaHasten commercial adjuvant containing 740 g/l ethyl and methyl esters ofcanola oil ex Victorian Chemical Company, Australia Liase commercialadjuvant containing 417 g/l ammonium sulphate ex Nufarm, Australia LI700commercial adjuvant comprising 355 g/l soyal phospholipids and 345 g/lpropionic acid ex Nufarm, Australia Roundup commercial herbicidecomposition containing 490 g/L CT Xtra glyphosate ex Monsanto, Australia

Example 1

This example was undertaken to assess the efficacy of the herbicidalcompositions containing glyphosate when applied to ryegrass whentemperature conditions were varied. Compositions 2, 3 and 4 were used atsuch a rate to provide equivalent amount of glyphosate as the commercialproduct Roundup CT Xtra. Each of the compositions was applied at oneeighth and one quarter of the standard recommended rates in bothStandard and Hot conditions.

Test results with ryegrass shoots Product rate (ml/l) visual 19 visual28 fresh wt 33 Standard conditions Roundup CT Xtra 1.8 2 3 3.80 RoundupCT Xtra 3.6 4 5 1.04 Composition 2 16 4 5 1.31 Composition 2 33 8 8 0.18Composition 3 33 5 6 0.54 Composition 3 67 7 7 0.18 Hot conditionsRoundup CT Xtra 1.8 3 3 3.00 Roundup CT Xtra 3.6 6 6.5 0.63 Composition2 16 6 6 1.23 Composition 2 33 9 9 0.10 Composition 4 23 5 5 1.61Composition 4 46 8 7 0.10

Compositions 2, 3 and 4 all outperformed the commercial standard RoundupCT Xtra under standard or hot conditions and at either the lower orhigher rates using either the visual or fresh weight assessment method.These results clearly illustrate that each of Compositions 2 to 4 aremore effective than the commercial product.

Example 2

This example was undertaken to assess the efficacy of the herbicidalcompositions containing glyphosate when applied to ryegrass when waterhardness is varied. Commercial Glyphosate products were used eitheralone or with tank added adjuvants. Application rates were designed toprovide equivalent amount of glyphosate within each experiment which wasequivalent to 120g ai/ha or about one quarter normal use rate.

Water hardness is measured in World Health Organisation units ofhardness (WHO). One WHO is equivalent to 343 ppm of CaCO₃. Tap refers toMelbourne tap water hardness (approximately 20 ppm).

All results are reported as fresh weight (g/plant)19 days afterapplication. The Unsprayed Control had a fresh weight of 1.726.

Test results with ryegrass shoots Glyphosate Rate Tank product (ml/l)additive/rate tap 1 WHO 3 WHO Hot Glyphosate CT 4.2 LI700 0.25% 0.4010.487 1.183 0.647 Glyphosate CT 4.2 BS1000 0.1% 0.127 0.130 0.158 0.266Liase 2.0% Glyphosate CT 4.2 Hasten 0.25% 0.186 0.325 1.588 0.223Roundup CT 3.8 — 0.264 0.534 1.684 0.293 Xtra Composition 5 24 — 0.1760.149 0.555 0.148 Composition 6 24 — 0.141 0.138 0.559 0.124

Hard water is known to have a detrimental effect on the efficacy oforganic acids such as glyphosate. Sulphates and other inorganic anionscan be used to counter the loss of activity associated with hard water.Hot conditions increase the evaporation rate of the spray water andthereby can leave the glyphosate dry on the foliage rendering it lessavailable for absorption into the plant.

Example 2 clearly shows this effect where the use of Liase and BS1000with glyphosate prevents greatly reduced efficacy as the water hardnessincreases. Compositions 5 and 6 also provide some protection againstwater hardness although the efficacy at 3 WHO is significantly reducedwhen compared with that in either 1 WHO or tap water.

Under Hot conditions, Compositions 5 and 6 are the most efficaciouscompositions in this study. Further, Compositions 5 and 6 are the onlycompositions for which the results are better for Hot than Standard.

It should be noted that in this study, Liase at 2.0% provides the fullrecommended use rate of ammonium sulphate whilst Compositions 5 and 6are both used at significantly lower than recommended rates (in order tomaintain equivalent ai for this study). Increasing the rate ofCompositions 5 and 6 will also provide additional ammonium sulphatewhich should counter the high levels of water hardness.

In conclusion, Compositions 5 and 6 both provide increased efficacy whencompared with the glyphosate product used alone. They also outperformglyphosate when used with commercial adjuvants under most of theconditions evaluated. It should be noted that sufficient ammoniumsulphate is required to counter hard water effects.

Example 3

This example was undertaken to assess the efficacy of the herbicidalcompositions containing glyphosate when applied at 120 g ai/ha to wildradish under Standard, rain and hard water/hot/rain conditions.

All results are reported as fresh weight (g/plant)17 days afterapplication. The Unsprayed Control had a fresh weight of 33.2.

Test results with wild radish Glyphosate Rate Tank tap/ 1 WHO/ product(ml/l) additive/rate tap rain hot/rain Glyphosate CT 6.9 LI700 0.25%13.0 24.2 28.6 Glyphosate CT 6.9 BS1000 0.1% 13.3 32.5 33.0 Liase 2.0%Roundup CT 6.4 — 12.8 35.3 29.6 Xtra Composition 5 41 — 8.6 28.9 23.0Composition 6 41 — 11.1 25.5 20.7

Compositions 5 and 6 provided similar or slightly better performancethan the other materials tested under Standard conditions. Both studieswhere rain was applied reduced the efficacy of all compositions.Compositions 5 and 6 were more effective in hard water/hot/rain than theother compositions and outperformed all but the Glyphosate CT/LI700composition under tap/rain.

Composition 6 contained stearyldimethyl(benzyl)ammonium chloride as partof the cationic surfactant component which was speculated may providesome rainfastness.

Composition 6 when compared with Composition 5 showed measurableimprovement when rain was applied.

Example 4

This example was undertaken to assess the efficacy of herbicidalcompositions containing 2,4-D when applied to wild radish. All resultsare reported as fresh weight (g/plant) 24 days after application withvisual assessment 21 days after spraying reported in brackets under thefresh weight. The Unsprayed Control had a fresh weight of 18.77.

rate Tank 2,4-D product (ml/l) additive/rate tap 1 WHO 2 WHO 4 WHOAmicide 500 6.6 — 16.45 17.89 17.79 18.59 (6) (5.5) (4) (4.5) Amicide500 6.6 Liase 0.2% 11.37 15.83 16.34  3.71 (6.5) (5.5) (5) (6) Amicide500 6.6 Liase 2.0% 17.44 17.24 17.14 17.81 (6.5) (5.5) (6) (6)Composition 9 50 — 19.70 15.40 10.75 11.16 (6) (5)   (5.5) (7)

The application of 2,4-D causes an exaggerated auxin (plant hormone)response in sensitive plants. In wild radish, characteristic damageincludes thickening of the leaf petiole and epinasty of stems andleaves. In some situations fresh weight reduction is not a reliableresponse because damaged plants may have some stem and petioles that arethicker and heavier than normal. Minor effects may not be wellcorrelated with fresh weight. A visual assessment has been included toassist with interpretation.

From the results, Composition 9 was found to have similar or improvedefficacy over Amicide 500 when used either alone or in combination withLiase. Significant improvements for Composition 9 were observed as waterhardness increased.

The word ‘comprising’ and forms of the word ‘comprising’ as used in thisdescription and the claims does not limit the invention claimed toexclude any variants or additions.

Modifications and improvements to the invention will be readily apparentto those skilled in the art. Such modifications and improvements areintended to be within the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for enhancing the activity of glyphosatecomprising the step of incorporating no more than about 25% ofglyphosate in a homogeneous liquid agrochemical composition having aphase stability of at least 48 hours comprising: (a) one or morelipophilic solvents present in an amount which is not in excess of about80%; (b) one or more plant nutrients present in an amount which is notin excess of about 50%; and (c) one or more oil soluble bases present inan amount which is not in excess of about 50% wherein the oil solublebase forms a lipophilic solvent soluble complex with glyphosate which iscapable of coupling or assisting coupling of the plant nutrients withthe lipophilic solvents; wherein all proportions are calculatedweight/weight on a dry basis based on the total composition.
 2. Ahomogeneous liquid agrochemical composition having a phase stability ofat least 48 hours comprising: (a) glyphosate present in an amount whichis not in excess of about 25%; (b) one or more lipophilic solventspresent in an amount which is not in excess of about 80%; (c) one ormore lipophobic plant nutrients present in an amount which is not inexcess of about 50%; and (d) one or more oil soluble bases present in anamount which is not in excess of about 50% wherein the oil soluble baseforms a lipophilic solvent soluble complex with glyphosate which iscapable of coupling or assisting coupling of the lipophobic plantnutrients with the lipophilic solvents; wherein all proportions arecalculated weight/weight on a dry basis based on the total composition.3. An agrochemical composition according to claim 2 comprising: (a) from2 to 12% of glyphosate; (b) from 10 to 50% of one or more lipophilicsolvents; (c) from 2 to 20% of one or more lipophobic plant nutrients;and (d) from 2 to 20% of one or more oil soluble bases.
 4. Anagrochemical composition according to claim 2 wherein the lipophilicsolvents are selected from the group consisting of petroleum fractions,vegetable oils, alkyl esters of fatty acids, fatty alcohols, guerbetalcohols or any combination thereof.
 5. An agrochemical compositionaccording to claim 4 wherein the lipophilic solvents are alkyl esters offatty acids.
 6. An agrochemical composition according to claim 5 whereinthe alkyl esters of fatty acids are ethyl esters of fatty acids.
 7. Anagrochemical composition according to claim 5 further comprising one ormore other components selected from the group consisting of nonionicemulsifiers, cationic emulsifiers, co-solvents and mixtures thereof. 8.An agrochemical composition according to claim 5 further comprising oneor more other components selected from the group consisting of alkylpolysaccharides, propylene glycol, fatty alkanolamides,cetyltrimethylammonium chloride and mixtures thereof.
 9. An agrochemicalcomposition according to claim 2 wherein the lipophobic plant nutrientsare ammonium salts of inorganic anions.
 10. An agrochemical compositionaccording to claim 9 wherein the lipophobic plant nutrient is selectedfrom ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate or mixtures thereof.
 11. Anagrochemical composition according to claim 2 wherein the oil solublebases are selected from the group consisting of fatty amines, fattyquaternary ammonium hydroxides, fatty betaines, calciumoverbasedphenates and mixtures thereof.
 12. An agrochemical compositionaccording to claim 11 wherein the oil soluble bases are N,N-dialkylfatty amines.
 13. An agrochemical composition according to claim 12wherein the oil soluble bases are selected from N,N-dimethyllaurylamine,dimethylcocoamine, oleylamine or mixtures thereof.
 14. An agrochemicalcomposition according to claim 2 further comprising one or more othercomponents to improve the form of the composition.
 15. An agrochemicalcomposition according to claim 14 wherein the other components are addedto form a micro-emulsion.
 16. An agrochemical composition according toclaim 15 wherein the other components are selected from the groupconsisting of emulsifiers, co-solvents, coupling agents, diluents usedto form a micro-emulsion or mixtures thereof.
 17. An agrochemicalcomposition according to claim 14 wherein the other components areemulsifiers.
 18. An agrochemical composition according to claim 17wherein the emulsifiers are selected from the group consisting ofemulsifiers which are nonionic, cationic, anionic, amphoteric ormixtures thereof.
 19. An agrochemical composition according to claim 18wherein the emulsifiers are nonionic emulsifiers which are selected fromthe group consisting of alkyl polysaccharides, sorbates, polysorbates,alcohol ethoxylates, alkylphenol ethoxylates, glycols, fattyalkanolamides or mixtures thereof.
 20. An agrochemical compositionaccording to claim 19 wherein the cationic emulsifiers are quaternarycationic emulsifiers.
 21. An agrochemical composition according to claim20 wherein the quaternary cationic emulsifiers are fatty quaternaryammonium chlorides.
 22. An agrochemical composition according to claim 2further comprising one or more other available adjuvant components. 23.An agrochemical composition according to claim 22 wherein the otheravailable adjuvant components are selected from the group consisting ofnonionic emulsifiers, cationic emulsifiers, pH modifiers, spray driftretardants, wetters and mixtures thereof.
 24. A homogeneous liquidagrochemical composition having a phase stability of at least 48 hourscomprising (a) from 2 to 12% of glyphosate; (b) from 10 to 50% of one ormore alkyl esters of fatty acids; (c) from 2 to 20% of one or moreammonium salts of inorganic anions; and (d) from 2 to 20% of one or moreN,N-dialkyl fatty amines wherein the N,N-dialkyl fatty amines forms alipophilic solvent soluble complex with the glyphosate which is capableof coupling or assisting coupling of the plant nutrients with thelipophilic solvents; wherein all proportions are calculatedweight/weight on a dry basis based on the total composition.
 25. Ahomogeneous liquid agrochemical composition having a phase stability ofat least 48 hours comprising (a) from 2 to 12% of glyphosate; (b) from10 to 50% of one or more alkyl esters of fatty acids; (c) from 2 to 20%of one or more ammonium salts of inorganic anions selected from thegroup consisting of ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate and mixturesthereof; and (d) from 2 to 20% of one or more N,N-dialkyl fatty aminesselected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyllaurylamine,dimethylcocoamine, oleylamine and mixtures thereof wherein theN,N-dialkyl fatty amines form a lipophilic solvent soluble complex withglyphosate which is capable of coupling or assisting coupling of theplant nutrients with the lipophilic solvents; wherein all proportionsare calculated weight/weight on a dry basis based on the totalcomposition.
 26. A homogeneous liquid agrochemical composition having aphase stability of at least 48 hours comprising (a) from 2 to 12% ofglyphosate; (b) from 10 to 50% of one or more alkyl esters of fattyacids; (c) from 2 to 20% of one or more ammonium salts of inorganicanions selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulfate, ammoniumphosphate and mixtures thereof; (d) from 2 to 20% of one or moreN,N-dialkyl fatty amines selected from the group consisting ofN,N-dimethyllaurylamine, dimethylcocoamine, oleylamine and mixturesthereof wherein the N,N-dialkyl fatty amines form a lipophilic solventsoluble complex with glyphosate which is capable of coupling orassisting coupling of the plant nutrients with the lipophilic solvents;and (e) from 10 to 30% of one or more other components to improve theform a microemulsion; wherein all proportions are calculatedweight/weight on a dry basis based on the total composition.
 27. Ahomogeneous liquid agrochemical composition having a phase stability ofat least 48 hours comprising (a) from 2 to 12% of glyphosate; (b) from10 to 50% of one or more alkyl esters of fatty acids; (c) from 2 to 20%of one or more ammonium salts of inorganic anions selected from thegroup consisting of ammonium sulfate, ammonium phosphate and mixturesthereof; (d) from 2 to 20% of one or more N,N-dialkyl fatty aminesselected from the group consisting of N,N-dimethyllaurylamine,dimethylcocoamine, oleylamine and mixtures thereof wherein theN,N-dialkyl fatty amines form a lipophilic solvent soluble complex withglyphosate which is capable of coupling or assisting coupling of theplant nutrients with the lipophilic solvents; and (e) from 10 to 30% ofone or more other components to form a microemulsion selected from thegroup consisting of alkyl polysaccharides, fatty alkanolamides, glycols,glycol ethers and mixtures thereof; wherein all proportions arecalculated weight/weight on a dry basis based on the total composition.28. A method of treating vegetation comprising the step of applying ahomogeneous liquid agrochemical composition having a phase stability ofat least 48 hours comprising: (a) glyphosate present in an amount whichis not in excess of about 25%; (b) one or more lipophilic solventspresent in an amount which is not in excess of about 80%; (c) one ormore plant nutrients not in excess of about 50%; and (d) one or more oilsoluble bases present in an amount which is not in excess of about 50%wherein the oil soluble base forms a lipophilic solvent soluble complexwith glyphosate which is capable of coupling or assisting coupling ofthe plant nutrients with the lipophilic solvents; wherein allproportions are calculated weight/weight on a dry basis based on thetotal composition.